Update: Parents Start Petition Demanding School Safety Changes
CHARLOTTE, NC — Three weapons were discovered on three Charlotte-Mecklenburg School campuses Tuesday.
The incidents led to four students being arrested. Parents have started a petition demanding school safety changes.
The CMS Police Chief says she is looking at options, including metal detectors in schools.
CMS Police say students took guns to Olympic High School and East Mecklenburg High School.
Officers say a student took a taser to Eastway Middle School.
Parents rushed outside Olympic High School after 8:00 this morning as a photo of a student pointing a gun circulated online.
“Here we go again, and now it’s my son’s school,” said Robin Hudson
We did not show the student’s face because police have not identified him.
The principal put the school on lockdown when students alerted teachers to the social media post.
“A norm. It’s a norm now,” said Olympic High School parent Emily Harvey-Felder.
Police arrested 16-year-old Victor Campos-Romero and two 15-year-olds off campus.
The CMS Chief says they had a gun at school at one point Tuesday.
The second scare was at East Mecklenburg High School before noon.
Police say a student told school administrators they saw a gun in a backpack.
A school resource officer searched the backpack, found the gun, and arrested 19-year-old Demondrez Tucker.
“The principal called and said they heard one of the students brought a gun to school,” said Lisa Campbell.
The third weapon was at Eastway Middle School. Police say a teacher told the resource officer a 13-year-old boy had a small taser and was activating it.
Police says the student handed it over to the SRO. There was no arrest.
“We don’t want to rush and put our youth in to the criminal justice system,” said Lt. Gene Lynn. “So, we’re looking at a couple of different options.”
“Our most critical thought process right now, is how to do we stop the guns from coming on to our campus,” said Chief Lisa Mangum.
Tuesday marks seven guns on CMS campuses since August.
There was a deadly shooting at Butler High School
The district can’t say how many staffers have had active shooter training.
CMS police recently hired a detective to help train more and are looking at all of their options, including metal detectors.
“We need to get ready. If it’s see-through book bags, if it’s metal detectors, whatever we need to do as parents and as a community, come together,” said Harvey-Felder.
